U.S. patent application number 11/761222 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-11 for collapsible container.
Invention is credited to Kyle L. Baltz.
Application Number | 20080302791 11/761222 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39638353 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080302791 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baltz; Kyle L. |
December 11, 2008 |
Collapsible Container
Abstract
A collapsible container with latches provides a more consistent
knockdown force in more situations. At least one of the engaging
surfaces of the latch is curved outwardly toward the other engaging
surface. This provides substantially tangential contact between the
surfaces, even when the wall is deformed slightly by the knockdown
force. The tangential contact provides consistent frictional force
resisting the knockdown force.
Inventors: |
Baltz; Kyle L.; (Redondo
Beach, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CARLSON, GASKEY & OLDS, P.C.
400 WEST MAPLE ROAD, SUITE 350
BIRMINGHAM
MI
48009
US
|
Family ID: |
39638353 |
Appl. No.: |
11/761222 |
Filed: |
June 11, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 11/1833
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/7 |
International
Class: |
B65D 6/18 20060101
B65D006/18 |
Claims
1. A collapsible container comprising: a base; a first wall
generally perpendicular to the base when in an upright position; a
second wall pivotably connected to the base and pivotable between
an upright position generally perpendicular to the base and a
collapsed position generally parallel to the base; and a latch
protruding laterally from the first wall and engaging an engagement
surface of the second wall when the second wall is in the upright
position, the latch deflectable in a direction generally parallel
to a plane of the first wall to selectively disengage the latch
from the second wall, at least one of the latch and the engagement
surface including a rounded surface engaging the other of the latch
and the engagement surface when the latch is latched.
2. The collapsible container according to claim 1 wherein the other
of the latch and the engagement surface includes a ramped surface
engaging the rounded surface when the latch is latched.
3. The collapsible container according to claim 2 wherein the latch
is deflectable upon an application of a knockdown force on the
second wall such that the ramped surface engagement with the
rounded surface causes the deflection of the latch to release the
latch and permit the second wall to pivot toward the base.
4. The collapsible container according to claim 3 wherein the latch
is deflectable in a direction generally perpendicular to the base
to release the second wall from the upright position.
5. The collapsible container of claim 4 wherein the latch protrudes
inward of the container from a cantilevered arm in the first
wall.
6. The collapsible container of claim 2 further including a recess
inward of the ramped surface and immediately adjacent the ramped
surface.
7. The collapsible container of claim 6 further including an angled
bevel between the recess and the ramped surface.
8. The collapsible container according to claim 1 wherein the
ramped engagement surface is a second ramped surface and wherein
the latch further includes a first ramped surface that engages a
first ramped surface on the second wall as the second wall is moved
toward the upright position.
9. The collapsible container according to claim 1 wherein the latch
is selectively manually actuatable to release the second wall from
the upright position.
10. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the latch
protrudes inward of the container from a cantilevered arm in the
first wall.
11. A collapsible container comprising: a generally planar base; a
first wall generally perpendicular to the base when in an upright
position; a second wall pivotably connected to the base and
pivotable between an upright position generally perpendicular to
the base and a collapsed position generally parallel to the base;
and a latch on the first wall, the latch having a forward ramp
surface and a rearward convex surface, the second wall engaging the
forward ramp surface to deflect the latch in a first direction
generally parallel to a plane of the first wall as one of the first
wall and the second wall is raised to the upright position, the
rearward convex surface engaging the second wall in the upright
position to retain the one of the first wall and the second wall in
the upright position.
12. The collapsible container according to claim 11 wherein the
latch is deflectable in a first direction generally parallel to a
plane of the first wall to release the second wall from the upright
position.
13. The collapsible container according to claim 12 wherein the
second wall includes a first ramped surface and a second ramped
surface, the first ramped surface of the latch engaging the first
ramped surface of the second wall as the second wall is moved to
the upright position, the second convex surface of the latch
engaging the second ramped surface of the second wall when the
second wall is in the upright position, the second ramped surface
of the second wall engaging the second convex surface of the latch
to deflect the latch to release the second wall from the latch upon
the application of a knockdown force on the second wall.
14. The collapsible container according to claim 13 wherein the
second convex surface is a rounded surface.
15. A collapsible container comprising: a base; a first wall; a
second wall perpendicular to the first wall and pivotably connected
to the base, the second wall pivotable between an upright position
generally perpendicular to the base and a collapsed position
generally parallel to the base; and a latch on the first wall, at
least a first one of the latch and the second wall having a first
ramped surface which engages the other of the latch and the second
wall as the second wall is raised to the upright position, at least
a second one of the latch and the second wall having a second
convexly rounded surface which engages the other of the latch and
the second wall when the second wall is in the upright position,
the latch being deflectable by the second convexly rounded surface
to release the second wall from the upright position upon the
application of a knockdown force on the second wall.
16. The collapsible container according to claim 15 wherein the
latch is deflectable by the first ramped surface as the second wall
is moved to the upright position.
17. The collapsible container according to claim 16 wherein the
latch is deflectable in a first direction generally parallel to a
plane of the first wall to release the second wall from the upright
position.
18. The collapsible container according to claim 15 wherein the
first ramped surface and the second convexly rounded surface are
both formed on the same one of the latch and the second wall.
19. The collapsible container according to claim 15 wherein each of
the latch and the second wall include the first ramped surface, one
of the latch and the second wall including the second convexly
rounded surface, the other of the latch and the second wall
including a second ramped surface, the first ramped surface of the
latch engaging the first ramped surface of the second wall as the
second wall is moved to the upright position, the second ramped
surface engaging the second convexly rounded surface when the
second wall is in the upright position, the second ramped surface
engaging the second convexly rounded surface to deflect the latch
to release the second wall from the latch upon the application of a
knockdown force on the second wall.
20. A collapsible container comprising: a base; a first wall
pivotable between and upright position and a collapsed position; a
second wall pivotable between an upright position and a collapsed
position; and a latch assembly connecting the first and second
walls, the latch assembly including a latch engaging a ramped
surface, a recess immediately adjacent and inward of the ramped
surface.
21. The collapsible container according to claim 20 wherein the
latch includes a rounded surface engaging the ramped surface when
the latch is latched.
22. The collapsible container of claim 20 further including an
angled bevel between the recess and the ramped surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to collapsible
containers and more particularly to an improved latch for a
collapsible container.
[0002] Collapsible containers are well known. Typically, four
walls, each connected via a hinge to a base, are selectively
moveable about the hinge between an upright use position in which
the wall is generally perpendicular to the base and a collapsed
position on the base. Various mechanisms have been provided to
connect adjacent walls at the corners to selectively lock the
container in the use position and selectively permit the collapse
of the walls onto the base for transport or storage.
[0003] Generally, there are two kinds of collapsible containers.
Some containers include latches at the corners that lock the walls
in the upright position until the latch is selectively actuated to
permit the movement of the walls to the collapsed position.
Typically these latches are actuated manually by a user selectively
deflecting the latch to permit movement of the walls. Other latches
are optimized for actuation by automated equipment, which actuates
the latch and collapses the container.
[0004] Another known type of collapsible container is the
"knock-down" container. Often there is simply some sort of
interference fit between a member on one wall with a complementary
member on the adjacent wall. Thus, no actuation of a latch is
required. The walls are forcibly moved into the upright position
and can be forcibly knocked-down to the collapsed position without
actuation of any latches. One disadvantage of the knock-down
container is that the force required to lock the walls in the
upright position may be much higher than normal latched containers
because this is the same (or nearly the same) force that retains
the walls in the upright position. In fact, knock-down containers
often require the user to manually force the interference members
together one-by-one.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,766, the assignee of which is the
assignee of the present invention, provides a collapsible container
for which the force required to move the walls to the upright
position is as low as a typical latched collapsible container. The
walls are also easily collapsed by actuating the latch mechanism
but can also be knocked-down forcibly without actuating the
latches. The collapsible container in that patent provides a latch
protruding laterally from a first wall and engaging an adjacent
second wall to retain the walls in an upright position. The latch
is deflectable in a direction generally parallel to the plane of
the first wall to selectively disengage the latch from the second
wall. The latch and the second wall include complementary first
ramped surfaces that engage one another to deflect the latch
downwardly as the adjacent wall is raised to the upright position.
The latch and the adjacent wall further both include second ramped
surfaces that engage one another when the adjacent wall is in the
upright position. The second ramp surfaces are much steeper than
the first ramped surfaces, such that the force required to deflect
the latch while moving the adjacent wall to the collapsed position
is much greater than the force necessary to deflect the latch while
moving the adjacent wall to the upright position.
[0006] Thus, the second wall in that patent can be moved to the
collapsed position either by manually actuating the latch and
applying a light force, or by knocking down the adjacent wall with
a higher force causing the engagement of the second ramped surfaces
on the second wall and latch thereby causing the latch to deflect
and release the second wall.
[0007] The prior design works well in most instances; however, at
times the latches require a knockdown force greater than would be
desirable to disengage the latches.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides a collapsible container with
latches that provide a more consistent knockdown force in more
situations. The improvements could be applied to a knockdown-only
container or to a latch that is both manually releasable or a
knockdown.
[0009] In order to provide a more consistent knockdown force
requirement, at least one of the engaging surfaces of the latch is
curved outwardly toward the other engaging surface. This provides
substantially tangential contact between the surfaces, even when
the wall is deformed slightly by the knockdown force. The
tangential contact provides consistent frictional force resisting
the knockdown force.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily
appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to
the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
collapsible container according to the present invention in the
upright position.
[0012] FIG. 2 is the collapsible container of FIG. 1 in the
inwardly collapsed position.
[0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, perspective, interior view of a latch
on one of the side walls of the collapsible container of FIG.
1.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an exterior view of the latch of FIG. 3.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective exterior view of one side edge of an
end wall that engages the latch of FIG. 4.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective interior view of the side edge of
the end wall of FIG. 5.
[0017] FIG. 7 shows the end wall of FIG. 5 as it is moved toward
the upright position to connect to the side wall of FIG. 3.
[0018] FIG. 8 is an interior view of the side wall and end wall of
FIG. 7 in the fully upright, latched position.
[0019] FIG. 9 is an exterior view of the side wall and end wall of
FIG. 7.
[0020] FIG. 10 is an interior perspective view of an alternate end
wall that could be used in the container of FIGS. 1-9.
[0021] FIG. 11 is an enlarged interior view of a portion of the end
wall of FIG. 10.
[0022] FIG. 12 is an interior view of a container with the end wall
of FIG. 10.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a section view taken along line 13-13 of FIG.
12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] One possible embodiment of the collapsible container 20 of
the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The collapsible container
20 includes a base 22, side walls 24, and end walls 28. As is
known, the walls 24, 28 are moveable about hinges 32, 34 between an
upright erect position, generally perpendicular to the base 22 (as
shown in FIG. 1) to a collapsed position on the base 22, generally
parallel to the base 22 (as shown in FIG. 2). Each side wall 24
includes two flange portions 40 extending perpendicular to the side
wall 24 and engaging the end walls 28. The collapsible container 20
of the present invention provides improved latches 41 securing each
side wall 24 to its adjacent end wall 28.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows the collapsible container 20 of FIG. 1 in the
collapsed position, where the end walls 28 and the side walls 24
are collapsed onto the base 22, after pivoting about the hinges 32
and 34 to a position substantially parallel to the base 22.
[0026] FIG. 3 is an enlarged interior view of one of the side walls
24 of collapsible container 20. At each end the side wall 24
includes a latch 41 includes a teardrop-shaped latch member 42
protruding laterally the end of a cantilevered flexible arm 43, all
integrally molded with the side wall 24. The latch member 42
includes a first forward ramped surface 44 and a rearward, convex,
second rounded surface 46. The first forward ramped surface 44 is
sloped much more gradually than the second rounded surface 46. The
side wall 24 further includes a T-interlock 50 on flange portion
40, a middle flange 52 and an L-shaped interlock 54, all protruding
inwardly from the side wall 24.
[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates an exterior view of the latch 41 of the
side wall 24 of FIG. 3. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the latch 41
further includes a tab 54 formed on the exterior of the flexible
arm 43 and protruding into a recess 56 formed on the exterior of
the side wall 24.
[0028] FIG. 5 is an exterior perspective view of the side edge 61
of the end wall 28 and FIG. 6 is an interior perspective view of
the side edge 61. End wall 28 includes a side edge 61 into which is
formed a recess 62. Adjacent recess 62, there is formed a first,
forward ramp surface 64 and a second, rearward ramped surface 66.
The second, rearward ramped surface 66 is substantially steeper
than the first, forward ramped surface 64. Preferably the second,
rearward ramped surface 66 is a few degrees less than perpendicular
to the base 22. The side edge 61 of the end wall 28 further
includes a T-interlock receiver 70 formed above the recess 62 and a
flange 72 and an L-shaped interlock 74 formed below the recess
62.
[0029] FIG. 7 is an exterior perspective view of the side wall 24
and adjacent end wall 28, the side wall 24 in its upright use
position and the end wall 28 being pivoted toward the upright use
position. As can be seen in FIG. 7, as the end wall 28 is pivoted
to its upright use position, the latch member 42 is aligned with
the recess 62 on end wall 28. The T-interlock 70 is aligned with
the T-interlock receiver 50, the L-shaped interlock 74 aligns with
the L-shaped interlock 54 and the flange 72 aligns with the middle
flange 52. The first, forward ramped surface 64 is aligned with and
engages the first, forward ramped surface 44 on the latch member
42, thereby causing latch member 42 to deflect downwardly in a
direction generally parallel to the plane of side wall 24 and
generally transverse to the base 22 (not shown in FIG. 7).
[0030] FIG. 8 is an interior perspective view of the side wall 24
and the end wall 28 in the upright, use, latched position. In this
position, the latch 41 is in its normal, undeflected position and
the second rounded surface 46 of the latch member 42 abuts the
second, rearward ramped surface 66 of the end wall 28, thereby
securing the end wall 28 in its upright used position.
[0031] FIG. 9 is an exterior perspective view of the side wall 24
and end wall 28 in the upright use, latched position. As can be
seen in FIG. 9, the T-interlock 70 is received within the
T-interlock receiver 50, the L-shaped interlock 74 is interlocked
with the L-shaped interlock 54 and the flange 72 is interlocked
with the middle flange 52. The tab 54 of the latch 41 is accessible
through recess 56 in the side wall 24. The tab 54 can be manually
depressed downwardly (toward the base 22 (not shown)) to deflect
the latch 41 downwardly such that the second rounded surface 46 of
the latch member 42 (FIG. 8) does not impede movement of the end
wall 28 from the upright position to the collapsed position. The
end wall 28 can also be "knocked down," that is, forcibly collapsed
without first actuating latch 41 with tab 54. Referring to FIG. 8,
if sufficient force is exerted inwardly on end wall 28, the
engagement of the second, rearward ramped surface 66 with the
second rounded surface 46 of latch member 42 will cause latch 41 to
deflect downwardly, thereby releasing end wall 28 from the latch
41. The amount of force required to knock down end wall 28 will be
substantially consistent even if the end wall 28 is deformed
slightly by the knockdown force.
[0032] An interior perspective view of an alternate end wall 128 is
shown in FIG. 10. The end wall 128 includes a rearward ramped
surface 166 above the recess 162 and having an adjacent pocket 176
formed inward of the rearward ramped surface 166.
[0033] FIG. 11 is an enlarged interior view showing an angled,
bevel surface 178 transitioning between the pocket 176 and the
rearward ramped surface 166. The bevel surface 178 angles toward
the side edge of the end wall 128 as it extends downwardly, such
that the rearward ramped surface 166 is tapered at its lower
end.
[0034] FIG. 12 is an interior view of the alternate end wall 128
adjacent the side wall 24. FIG. 13 is a section view taken along
line 13-13 of FIG. 12. Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the latch
member 42 abuts the rearward ramped surface 166 adjacent the pocket
176 and the bevel surface 178. When a knockdown force is applied to
the center of the end wall 128, the wall may bow inward. This would
cause the corner of the second rounded surface 46 of latch member
42 to be received in the pocket 176, without the latch member 42
binding with the rearward ramped surface 166. The second rounded
surface 46 bears against the bevel surface 178, which is still
oriented relative to the second rounded surface 46 to cause the
latch member 42 to move downwardly to release.
[0035] In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and
jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are
considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention.
However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced
otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without
departing from its spirit or scope. There are many different
configurations for collapsible containers (knockdown or manually
releasable) and variations in design, many of which would benefit
from the present invention. Alphanumeric identifiers on method
steps are for convenient reference in dependent claims and do not
signify a required sequence of performance unless otherwise
indicated in the claims.
* * * * *